The Fort Lauderdale water polo teams gather around a poster of Andre Williams, a teammate who recently passed away in a motorcycle accident, for a portrait at the school’s pool as the Flying L’s prepare for the season. CHARLES TRAINOR JR.ctrainor@miamiherald.com

The Fort Lauderdale water polo teams gather around a poster of Andre Williams, a teammate who recently passed away in a motorcycle accident, for a portrait at the school’s pool as the Flying L’s prepare for the season. CHARLES TRAINOR JR.ctrainor@miamiherald.com

Fort Lauderdale dedicates season to fallen teammate

A first team All-County water polo player at Fort Lauderdale High School, Williams’ dream was to become a boat captain.

He loved turtles, scuba diving and was even a certified rescue diver.

"He could have gone to any college he wanted for water polo, but he wanted to live his life on or around the water," said Williams’ mother, Kay. "He loved turtles and even had a tattoo of a turtle on his side. He used to tell people that he would probably come back as a turtle the day he passed away."

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Williams, a senior, was killed in a motorcycle accident this past Christmas Eve. On his way home from his job at Water Taxi, a ferry boat service in Fort Lauderdale, Williams was riding his motorcycle when a car hit him while attempting a U-turn. Williams suffered severe injuries and was placed on life support where he spent five days until he died.

His death left the Flying L’s water polo teams and the sport’s local community shaken.

"It’s been really weird to adjust to not having him here," said Kalina Anderson, a goalkeeper on the girls’ team. "He would train with me since I was a goalie and a few of us worked with him at [Water Taxi]. He always kept our spirits up."

Fort Lauderdale, a boys’ and girls’ state quarterfinalist last season, chose to dedicate this season to Williams.

"The first match was very emotional," said first-year Fort Lauderdale coach Carrie Becker. "At our first meeting in January, we had a gathering at the pool where we all had a little bit of closure and said our goodbyes to him. That was tough, but good for the healing process for the kids."

Hanging on the fence next to Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic center is a banner that reads: "Andre Williams #7 Forever a Flying L."

The team also made posters with pictures of Williams and will wear practice T-shirts with his initials and jersey number on their sleeves this season.

Williams’ mother said the family chose to send donations to Sea Turtle Oversight Protection in Andre’s memory instead of having mourners send flowers to the funeral. Kay Williams said over $5,000 were donated.

"There are no words to describe how supportive the community has been to our family since Andre passed," Kay Williams said. "That’s the thing about the water polo community. Once you’re in it, it’s a family."

Williams, who played club for South Florida Water Polo, joined the high school team his sophomore season at the behest of recently retired Fort Lauderdale coach Debbie Cavanaugh, who knew him since seventh grade.

Williams, who stood about 6-feet, 1-inch tall wanted to play basketball. But it didn’t take him long to become one of Broward County’s top players. Last season, Williams scored 92 goals and had 73 steals and 30 assists to lead Fort Lauderdale to state.

"He was very easy going and always smiling," Cavanaugh said. "Nothing would ever upset him. You’d never see him with any turmoil. He was a young, energetic man that cared for everybody."

Williams was set to graduate early just before the accident that claimed his life, but he chose not to pursue a career in college water polo.

Williams was instead logging in the hours on the water he needed to become a boat captain. He still made plenty of time to be around his teammates though.

"Andre made it fun to play water polo," senior Will Trybus said. "He was my water polo idol."

Fort Lauderdale’s players, who began the regular season last week, still remember his presence vividly while they are competing. The Flying L’s have begun a tradition of yelling “Go Andre” at the end of every game.

"There are so many memories we’ll cherish from him cheering us on to him running and doing a belly flop into the pool," said teammate Raymond Jiampetti. "Every time we do our cheer I still see him like he’s still there, just laughing with us."